“I had to go up the stairs and I was breathless” – Andre de Grasse | 2022 World Championships in Athletics

Andre de Grasse recently returned to full training after a second bout of COVID-19 brought a season that was finally gaining momentum to a halt.

He stated that he was suffering from symptoms including shortness of breath. It was a frustrating moment as he was recovering from a foot injury early in the season.

” I slept on the second floor, so I had to go up the stairs and lost my breath. I felt this for the first two days. And even after I got back into training, trying to run, and just trying to catch my breath, it was really a little sore. I panicked a little. »

The 27-year-old Ontario runner slowed down from Markham early in the season with an injury that affected his right toe and ball of foot.

With the World Championships due to start early in the season, he raced first to assess where he was preparing, knowing he didn’t have enough training yet to be at 100%. He finished ninth at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene at the end of May.

Less than three weeks later, he won against a strong field To win the Oslo Diamond League With his best time (10.05 seconds) of the season. Then he tested positive for COVID-19 and He was forced to withdraw from the Canadian Championships.

De Grasse spent three days in bed and was isolated from her partner Nia Ali, who had her own experiences in the United States on the worlds.

I admit I was very depressed. And in the first week of training when I came back, I didn’t feel well. Lungs, difficulty breathing. It takes a lot to recover. I had a cough and tiredness and things like that.

De Grasse plans to compete in the 100, 200 and 4 x 100 metres, as he did at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. He won Medals in every event, making him the country’s most decorated men’s summer sports Olympian. The three also raced in the World Championships in 2019.

The schedule makes it a tough 10 days as there are three rounds of the 100m and 200m sprints. The competition will begin in the first round of the 100m race on July 15th.

He said in a phone interview on Monday that I am trying to regain my strength for the 200 metres. For now, I’m hoping to double down, but the 200 decision will be made there.

One day at a time

US Tests last month at the same Hayward Field track that will host the World Championships led to some amazing times. Fred Curley won the 100 meters in 9.77 seconds, in a final where all participants broke the ten-second mark.

Glenroy Gilbert, head coach of Canadian Athletics, believes de Grasse’s ability to perform at his best when the stakes are high will help him in Eugene.

Gilbert said Andre is not the type to need a lot of training. He is competitive. We know that. And as long as he’s confident in the work he did to get to Eugene – and he’s fast on that track (from Hayward Field), it’s important to remember that – I think he’ll be fine.

De Grasse considers himself well prepared, at least mentally, for major international competitions.

I have experience that I can use to my advantage. I’m used to the stress of these big eventsHe said.

De Grasse and Ali will compete in their third worlds together, which is an amazing feat for Ali, who is a mother of three. The American, the three-time world champion in the 100-meter hurdles, has a son Titus, and she and De Grass have a daughter Yuri and son Kenzo, born in May 2021.

De Grasse added that she herself has struggled a bit this year in an effort to come back. I watched (The American Trials) on TV. It’s great to see her there.

The couple will have the three children with them in Eugene, along with their mothers to take care of all three.

Meanwhile, de Grasse said his training is getting better every day.

I have two weeks, one day at a time, 1% each day. I’m getting my energy back, training is going well.